Barbara Ortutay, The Associated Press

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Barbara Ortutay, The Associated Press.

Meta faces historic antitrust trial that could force it to break off Instagram, WhatsApp

Meta faces historic antitrust trial that could force it to break off Instagram, WhatsApp

Meta Platforms Inc. faces a historic antitrust trial beginning Monday that could force the tech giant to break off Instagram and WhatsApp, startups it bought more than a decade ago that have since grown into social media powerhouses.

Former Facebook executive tells Senate committee company undermined US national security with China

Former Facebook executive tells Senate committee company undermined US national security with China

Former Facebook executive Sarah Wynn-Williams testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday, accusing the social media company of undermining national security and briefing China on U.S. artificial intelligence efforts in order to grow its business there.

US immigration officials look to expand social media data collection

US immigration officials look to expand social media data collection

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- U.S. immigration officials are asking the public and federal agencies to comment on a proposal to collect social media handles from people applying for benefits such as green cards or citizenship, to comply with an executive order from President Donald Trump.

Immigration officials look to collect social media handles from those seeking benefits. Is this new?

Immigration officials look to collect social media handles from those seeking benefits. Is this new?

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- U.S. immigration officials are asking the public and federal agencies to comment on a proposal to collect social media handles from people applying for benefits such as green cards or citizenship, to comply with an executive order from President Donald Trump.

Report says crowd-sourced fact checks on X fail to address flood of US election misinformation

Report says crowd-sourced fact checks on X fail to address flood of US election misinformation

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- X's crowd-sourced fact-checking program, called Community Notes, isn't addressing the flood of U.S. election misinformation on Elon Musk's social media platform, according to a report published Wednesday by a group that tracks online speech.

TikTok let through disinformation in political ads despite its own ban, Global Witness finds

TikTok let through disinformation in political ads despite its own ban, Global Witness finds

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Just weeks before the U.S. presidential election, TikTok approved advertisements that contained election disinformation even though it has a ban on political ads, according to a report published Thursday by the nonprofit Global Witness.

Musk deletes post about Harris and Biden assassination after widespread criticism

Musk deletes post about Harris and Biden assassination after widespread criticism

Elon Musk has deleted a post on his social media platform X in which he said "no one is even trying to assassinate" President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the wake of an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump while he was playing golf.

Meta kills off misinformation tracking tool CrowdTangle despite pleas from researchers, journalists

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms has shut down CrowdTangle, a tool widely used by researchers, watchdog organizations and journalists to monitor social media posts, notably to track how misinformation spreads on the company's platforms.

How X owner Elon Musk uses his social platform to amplify his right-wing views

How X owner Elon Musk uses his social platform to amplify his right-wing views

As X's owner and most followed user, Elon Musk has increasingly used the social media platform as a microphone to amplify his political views and, lately, those of right-wing figures he's aligned with. There are few modern parallels to his antics, but then again there are few modern parallels to Elon Musk himself.

How X owner Elon Musk uses his 'free speech' platform to amplify his views worldwide

How X owner Elon Musk uses his 'free speech' platform to amplify his views worldwide

As X's owner and most followed user, Elon Musk has increasingly used the social media platform as a microphone to amplify his political views and, lately, those of right-wing figures he's aligned with. There are few modern parallels to his antics, but then again there are few modern parallels to Elon Musk himself.

Musk's interview with Trump marred by technical glitches

Musk's interview with Trump marred by technical glitches

Elon Musk's much-awaited interview with former President Donald Trump was marred by technical glitches on Monday, with people unable to join the audio conversation on X's Spaces platform.

Elon Musk's Trump interview marred by technical glitches, Musk says its a malicious attack

Elon Musk's Trump interview marred by technical glitches, Musk says its a malicious attack

Elon Musk's much-awaited interview with former President Donald Trump was marred by technical glitches on Monday, with people unable to join the audio conversation on X's Spaces platform.

What to know about the Kids Online Safety Act that just passed the Senate

The last time Congress passed a law to protect children on the internet was in 1998 -- before Facebook, before the iPhone and long before today's oldest teenagers were born. Now, a bill aiming to protect kids from the harms of social media, gaming sites and other online platforms has passed in the Senate with overwhelming support. Its fate is...

Despite Musk's Trump endorsement, X remains a go-to platform for Democrats

Despite Musk's Trump endorsement, X remains a go-to platform for Democrats

A week after Elon Musk endorsed Donald Trump for president, President Joe Biden's team used Musk's social media platform X -- in addition to more neutral spaces such as Facebook and Instagram -- to announce he is ending his reelection campaign.

What to know about the Kids Online Safety Act and its chances of passing

What to know about the Kids Online Safety Act and its chances of passing

The last time Congress passed a law to protect children on the internet was in 1998 -- before Facebook, before the iPhone and long before today's oldest teenagers were born. Now, a bill aiming to protect kids from the harms of social media, gaming sites and other online platforms appears to have enough bipartisan support to pass, though whether it...